Ok, a question. Why are the majority here seemingly against external safeties on guns like the Shield, M&P9, Glock etc. but seem to be fine with the safety on 1911s? Both must be thumbed off for the gun to fire. In essence, both guns (if a round is chambered and safety on) would be considered "cocked and locked". Just asking.........
I think for a couple of reasons, lastround.
first, more than a few of us have been working with the Glock for more than a few years. An external safety on a carry pistol now requires an extra thought process.
Second, with the 1911, carrying cocked and locked, means the piece is at full cock with the safety engaged. A Glock is only half cocked and the trigger manipulation completes the other half of the cocking process, along with the firing motion, so it isn't exactly the same as carrying a 1911 with the safety off.
Worst of all for me, was trying to use or carry the Shield with the manual safety in the Off position. Invariably, I would take it out of my hip pocket at he end of the day, to find the manual safety had engaged itself.
I eventually called that a dealbreaker and sent my Shield down the road.
It was only after that, that Smith introduced a Shield without a manual safety.
By then, however, I had a Glock 43 in my back pocket.
The problem was solved for me.